WTB PCE Duo-R

[OC2010]

Hey! New to the forums and looking to get back into the awesome PCE library! I had a TG16 in my youth and loved every minute of it. I want to have this be the first addition to the "man-cave" retro gaming library! Any help beyond eBay is appreciated... Though I know it is likely the route needed. Thanks!

[SavagePencil]

Which games, specifically, are you looking to pick back up?  JP or US?

The person in this link is selling a Duo-R:  https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=21138.0

[SignOfZeta]

Why don't you want a Turbo Duo?

[SavagePencil]

Perhaps you could enlighten (maybe worth a sticky?) as to the benefits of a Duo vs. a Duo-R vs. a Duo-RX?  I've only ever had US Duos, and seem to remember hearing things about the others being different, but can't remember what the issues were.  Reliability?  Power supply?

[OC2010]

Which games, specifically, are you looking to pick back up?  JP or US?

The person in this link is selling a Duo-R:  https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=21138.0

Hello! I would want to be able to play both, so would need a switch if it didn't already have 1.

To answer the question below... It is about durability and history of breakdown. Plus, the Duo-R gives me access to all CD games except I would need just the Arcade card.

[crazydean]

The Duo, Duo-R, and Duo-RX will allow the play of all games except the arcade games. Also, keep in mind that disc games are region free as well as the Turbo Everdrive. You only need a region switch if you plan to play original US HuCard games.

[OC2010]

The Duo, Duo-R, and Duo-RX will allow the play of all games except the arcade games. Also, keep in mind that disc games are region free as well as the Turbo Everdrive. You only need a region switch if you plan to play original US HuCard games.

I would like to be able to play US HuCard games as well. As you said, the Arcade card would be the only thing I would need on the CD side. I am looking for a Duo-R because of the lack of the capacitor issue and lens problems. The Duo-RX just tends to be a bit on the expensive side...

[SignOfZeta]

Perhaps you could enlighten (maybe worth a sticky?) as to the benefits of a Duo vs. a Duo-R vs. a Duo-RX?  I've only ever had US Duos, and seem to remember hearing things about the others being different, but can't remember what the issues were.  Reliability?  Power supply?

I'm just messing with you. Most one post noobs lately seem to be only interested in the Turbo Duo because they couldn't afford one when they were 12 and it's somehow made them into money spending collectard monsters. There is literally no technical reason whatsoever to own a US Duo specifically. It's just more money and often more problems.

[OC2010]

I'm just messing with you. Most one post noobs lately seem to be only interested in the Turbo Duo because they couldn't afford one when they were 12 and it's somehow made them into money spending collectard monsters. There is literally no technical reason whatsoever to own a US Duo specifically. It's just more money and often more problems.

I don't plan on being a "one post noob..." However, without a PC Engine to talk about on said PCEngineFX forums, I would likely have nothing to say.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

I wouldn't turn down a refurbished original Duo.  There's nothing inherently wrong with their blazing lazers and they're just as reliable as an R/RX once they've been recapped.

[Bernie]

I kinda like the Turbo Duo, but alas, they do need some work to get em right.    Out of the box, the Duo R is more reliable....for now...

[SignOfZeta]

At this point a large percentage of black Duos have already had enough work to last them for the next 20 years. However price on the US ones is still a problem and probably always will be.

[OC2010]

Thanks for all the input all! I know I am ultimately going to go with a Duo-R with a switch and Arcade Card. I want to own one too much to pass it up! But I have decided today to start my retro gaming collection with an all-in-one system: the Cyber Gadget Retro Freak. I don't have much space and am working with a teacher's salary. So, having 14 consoles under one roof is helpful.

It does TG16, PCE, and PCE Super Graphics, along with NES (through adapter), Famicom, SNES, Super Famicom, Genesis, Mega Drive, Mk III (through adapter), Sega Master System (through adapter), GB, GBC, and GBA... And all Roms for each as well via SD Card. Then it spits it out in 720p with various filters and the ability to add in scan lines. It's pretty sweet if you're not a purist. All of this for about $200. Check it out if you haven't seen it! Reviews are quite good and there are plenty where you can see gameplay for each console it boasts!

I will get the Duo-R after I have about $700 to drop on it. But, until then I will at least be able to play all but the CD games!

[SavagePencil]

Sounds like you found a good fit!  Come back and talk about the games you're playing, and don't ignore the JP library...lotta good stuff there that never saw our shores!

[Nazi NecroPhile]

You're doing it wrong if you think a region modded Duo-R is $700.

To each their own, but I"d rather emulate on a PC.  I'd rather not get locked in to some proprietary thing that may or may not ever get updated, especially if it can't play CDs.

[OC2010]

You're doing it wrong if you think a region modded Duo-R is $700.

I don't. The Duo-R itself looks like $300, the Arcade Card, from what I've found, is around $75-$80 [Correction: I want a Pro, and that looks like $150], I will admit I don't know what the switch will cost but I am assuming $100 for the parts and time... That's $500 right there, then I have to add in all the shipping for everything every time it needs to be shipped to someone and back. That's how I came up with $700. Then I will be picking up the XRGB Mini... So, I am actually looking at something more like $1000, and that is without having any CD games to play on it yet. I have to plan ahead on this because money unfortunately doesn't grow on trees for me...

[SavagePencil]

I don't. The Duo-R itself looks like $300, the Arcade Card, from what I've found, is around $75-$80 [Correction: I want a Pro, and that looks like $150], I will admit I don't know what the switch will cost but I am assuming $100 for the parts and time... That's $500 right there, then I have to add in all the shipping for everything every time it needs to be shipped to someone and back. That's how I came up with $700. Then I will be picking up the XRGB Mini... So, I am actually looking at something more like $1000, and that is without having any CD games to play on it yet. I have to plan ahead on this because money unfortunately doesn't grow on trees for me...

Once you've got all the cables and controllers and all the basic crap it's going to be expensive, so I think that all makes sense.  One thing I'm curious about:  there's only a handful of games (or at least, good games) that require the Arcade card.  Is there one in particular that's driving you towards it?

[OC2010]

Once you've got all the cables and controllers and all the basic crap it's going to be expensive, so I think that all makes sense.  One thing I'm curious about:  there's only a handful of games (or at least, good games) that require the Arcade card.  Is there one in particular that's driving you towards it?

Namely the Neo Geo's Fatal Fury 1 and 2, and Art of Fighting. I have fond memories of those in the arcade and with friends.

[OC2010]

I just did some quick research and I discovered that I may be mistaken about the card I need... It looks as though the Arcade Card Duo is the only one I need to play all the games on a PCE Duo-R. Am I correct? It seems as though you only need the Pro if you havetheolder systems without the added RAM already in... Any help is appreciated!

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Region and rgb* modded Duo-Rs sell on ebay regularly for $350-400 shipped, and there's no reason for you to pay more for a Arcade Card Pro when an Arcade Card Duo does the same job and is meant for Duos (hence the name).

* - If you're going to use an LCD and xrgb, get an rgb mod.  It makes no sense to spend so much money for upconverter and feed it composite.

[OC2010]

Region and rgb* modded Duo-Rs sell on ebay regularly for $350-400 shipped, and there's no reason for you to pay more for a Arcade Card Pro when an Arcade Card Duo does the same job and is meant for Duos (hence the name).

* - If you're going to use an LCD and xrgb, get an rgb mod.  It makes no sense to spend so much money for upconverter and feed it composite.

You're right! I forgot to put in the RGB mod to go SCART to the XRGB Mini... So, a little more $ lol.

Thank you for the help!

[Gypsy]

You're doing it wrong if you think a region modded Duo-R is $700.

To each their own, but I"d rather emulate on a PC.  I'd rather not get locked in to some proprietary thing that may or may not ever get updated, especially if it can't play CDs.

I was thinking the same thing, that it seemed rather high.

Not a fan of the clone systems either. The Retron 5 looks awful from what I saw when it was running in a game store. Give me YPbPr or even Svideo on a CRT over that any day of the week.

[OC2010]

I was thinking the same thing, that it seemed rather high.

Not a fan of the clone systems either. The Retron 5 looks awful from what I saw when it was running in a game store. Give me YPbPr or even Svideo on a CRT over that any day of the week.

The reviews I saw stated that the Retron 5 was bad compared to the Retro Freak and that people should go with the Retro Freak, hands down. Check out some reviews to see for yourself. To each their own, but the collectors that have reviewed it are impressed.

[Gypsy]

Yeah I'd want to see it in person to see how it looks and performs technically. I wonder if any of the stores here are selling them, I'll have to check to see if I can fool around with one. I still have no interest in buying it myself since I already have all these old consoles, but it might not be a terrible as an entry level console since it grants access to so many games.

Edit: And suffice to say gaining Turbo/Super Grafx playability is a big step up over the Retron 5.

[SignOfZeta]

Please to not "start [your] retro gaming collection." What a revolting idea. If you literally don't have a single game then go get another hobby now, before it's too late. Somthing that actually fits your generation. This one is as overcrowded as it is passe.

[wildfruit]

Duo looks better than duo r. Horrible curvy blandness.

[OC2010]

Please to not "start [your] retro gaming collection." What a revolting idea. If you literally don't have a single game then go get another hobby now, before it's too late. Somthing that actually fits your generation. This one is as overcrowded as it is passe.

Exactly how young do you think I am??? I am sorry... I will be entering the space anyway. This IS my generation of gaming. I may be new here, but not new to gaming. I was born in 1979 and my first system experiences were Intellivision and ColecoVision at home. I played on my friends' and cousins Atari of various stages and the Odyssey 2. My friends and I planned out the Sega and Nintendo times where I bought Sega and they bought Nintendo so we could play both. I also purchased a TG16 for our enjoyment. I owned every Sega system, except the CD and Saturn (which another friend had), all the way until the Dreamcast bust, then switched to Sony and Nintendo. I currently own a PS4 and a Wii U... But games today are, of course, vastly different. My friends and I frequented all the fading arcades in our area until they unceremoniously closed their doors.

I am a gamer, have always been a gamer, and will always be a gamer. I do not think that there should be anything wrong with finally, after I have gotten rid of enough student loans to actually begin, start collecting the games I enjoyed in MY youth! Especially since my plan is to have this be a bonding time with my son: playing our way through video game history. Thanks! But I'll stick with my plan...

[esteban]

OC2010: Zeta and I were born in 1995 and have complete N64 collections. Let's PM trade lists.

[OC2010]

Well then... All of you youngins git off my lawn!! 

Unfortunately, my life has been fairly poor and modest up until this point. I would sell all my old equipment to get the next console for a long while... It was sad for me. But, that was how it was. Now my finances are stabilizing and I can get back the experiences from every generation of consoles I loved, and as I said before, share it with my son.

[SignOfZeta]

I was quoting what you said. "Start my retro gaming collection" sounds like something a 16 year old would say, both because nobody ever called a SNES "retro" until 90s kids started doing it and it also seems to indicate your "gamer" ass doesn't actually have a single game. Both would be good reasons to get into beard grooming or 3D printing or some other dumb fad. This one is 10 lbs of sausage in a 5 pound sack. Beware. You are very late to the party.

[OC2010]

I was quoting what you said. "Start my retro gaming collection" sounds like something a 16 year old would say, both because nobody ever called a SNES "retro" until 90s kids started doing it and it also seems to indicate your "gamer" ass doesn't actually have a single game. Both would be good reasons to get into beard grooming or 3D printing or some other dumb fad. This one is 10 lbs of sausage in a 5 pound sack. Beware. You are very late to the party.

Wow... Are you really this upset about it? I'm not trying to become some amazing collector who outbids you on eBay or at some "_Con" of some sort. I wanted help getting a Duo-R. Did you recently get outbid by somebody on something? I'm just a nice guy that misses playing my old games, and I'm also a father who wants to share something with his son that gave him joy. I don't care how old you are, you have something to learn about being kind and having respect for those that have done nothing at all to you. I feel like I'm being extremely disrespected and I didn't do anything to anyone...

And... As consoles go... Get used to it: 90s music... On the "Oldies" station. When you think about it. The only things of note older than the systems in the 80s are the early iterations of Atari, Magnavox's Odyssey variations ("Wow! I can stick an overhead to my screen!"), ColecoVision, and the Intellivision. By the way, I played them all. All the rest are just a plot-point for a timeline somewhere. In the age of photorealistic graphics, yeah... as consoles go, the SNES (released in 1991) is slowly turning into a "retro" system. It happens as you get older... Sorry to tell you but the timeline moves.

Don't worry, I'll be sure to watch out for you. All I ask is that you please don't come into my posts here just to be a jerk and disguising it as protecting the sanctity of the semantics of collecting. Thanks! 

[SavagePencil]

I'm curious to hear what you think of the system, and the controller setup, when you get it.

[SignOfZeta]

I was quoting what you said. "Start my retro gaming collection" sounds like something a 16 year old would say, both because nobody ever called a SNES "retro" until 90s kids started doing it and it also seems to indicate your "gamer" ass doesn't actually have a single game. Both would be good reasons to get into beard grooming or 3D printing or some other dumb fad. This one is 10 lbs of sausage in a 5 pound sack. Beware. You are very late to the party.

Wow... Are you really this upset about it? I'm not trying to become some amazing collector who outbids you on eBay or at some "_Con" of some sort. I wanted help getting a Duo-R. Did you recently get outbid by somebody on something? I'm just a nice guy that misses playing my old games, and I'm also a father who wants to share something with his son that gave him joy. I don't care how old you are, you have something to learn about being kind and having respect for those that have done nothing at all to you. I feel like I'm being extremely disrespected and I didn't do anything to anyone...

And... As consoles go... Get used to it: 90s music... On the "Oldies" station. When you think about it. The only things of note older than the systems in the 80s are the early iterations of Atari, Magnavox's Odyssey variations ("Wow! I can stick an overhead to my screen!"), ColecoVision, and the Intellivision. By the way, I played them all. All the rest are just a plot-point for a timeline somewhere. In the age of photorealistic graphics, yeah... as consoles go, the SNES (released in 1991) is slowly turning into a "retro" system. It happens as you get older... Sorry to tell you but the timeline moves.

Don't worry, I'll be sure to watch out for you. All I ask is that you please don't come into my posts here just to be a jerk and disguising it as protecting the sanctity of the semantics of collecting. Thanks! 

It doesn't matter how old I am, it really doesn't. I also haven't bought a game off eBay in years so that's not it either. My point was that "retro gaming" as you call it (know in olden days as "playing video games") is a pretty crappy hobby to get into now and if you don't actually have a single game then this is the perfect time to get bit by some other bug, something more meaningful to a guy who owns zero games.

The very idea that people "decide to collect retro video games" is offensive to me. Why would you do that? Why not just buy games you like and enjoy them? Why don't you have anything? What happened to it? Why does it have to be such a major event that causes people to waste insane sums on games they don't even play? Why does it have to be a cult or a club?

I read books. I have hundreds. Many are scifi and politics. At no point in my life did I say "I'm going to be a collector of scifi/political books!" I've always had them. There was no beginning. No switch was flipped. I simply buy the ones I like and eventually a big pile of them accumulated. I never said "I need a pile of books! Well, let's get started. I guess I need a shelf first."

Maybe you don't realize how bad the scene is now, but I doubt it. Is assume the overwhelming stench of things is what drew you back into it. Please be a dear and dump all your stuff here when you're done with it. These guys could use a break.

[OC2010]

It doesn't matter how old I am, it really doesn't. I also haven't bought a game off eBay in years so that's not it either. My point was that "retro gaming" as you call it (know in olden days as "playing video games") is a pretty crappy hobby to get into now and if you don't actually have a single game then this is the perfect time to get bit by some other bug, something more meaningful to a guy who owns zero games.

The very idea that people "decide to collect retro video games" is offensive to me. Why would you do that? Why not just buy games you like and enjoy them? Why don't you have anything? What happened to it? Why does it have to be such a major event that causes people to waste insane sums on games they don't even play? Why does it have to be a cult or a club?

It really does matter, actually. I am old enough to have been in the crash we recently had and to become an economic layoff TWICE. Just before the first one, I got divorced and she had run up the credit cards! I had to sell many things I loved so that I could move, which included most of my games. When I was in college my best friend and I had a setup that contained most systems from the Atari 2600 on up, and most of them were mine. Anyway... After the layoffs I got into the rut with PlayStations where the only way I could get the next system was to sell all the games I had for the current system to afford the next. My Wii U is the first Nintendo I owned since the secondhand GameCube I had. Sometimes adults have decisions that they have to make where some things need to go in order to continue on in a healthy way.

I know I'm late to the "game" this time around, but if you had paid attention to my other posts in this thread you might have already gotten the idea (albeit, not as specific) of what I just told you. I love gaming. But I had to do some grown-up things I hope you never have to deal with and had to get rid of what I had already collected to that point. I sold off thousands of dollars of merchandise. Who knows, if you like Sega, you might own some of my games...

Being poor is not fun... It got in the way a lot. Luckily I'm on firm footing right now and I'm almost through my student loans. My Masters degree took a bite out of my pocket too. 37 years old and almost out of debt after a ton of issues. I'm happy to be able to even think this way right now. I know it is stupid expensive. That's why I need to plan, and I need to try to go through less absurd sources than eBay. Prices of course get dumb there... Every once in a great while you find a gem. But being involved in communities like this, where people really love what they play and don't just use it to get a buck, is how you can network to find the things you are looking for at a realistic price.

As you all know, the PC Engine is a system that is severely underappreciated except in places like this. It is a part of some of my fondest memories from the 90s. It is stupid expensive to collect for. But, if the Retro Freak is all people say it is, the savings it will offer with the HuCard games is immense. Then I can drop the cash on CDs, if needed. I just want to play the games again... and have the system I always wanted in the process. 

I hope we can put the animosity (that appeared to exist) behind us. I just want to enjoy this forum with everyone else that has a respect and love for the PCE.

[SignOfZeta]

I'm 43 years old this month. I was raised by a single mother and an abusive step dad. My girlfriend of 16 years dumped me with no explaination. I've been homeless. I've been to jail. I've had to sell stuff before, believe me. You've got nothing on me in these departments and I don't care because it doesn't matter. I'm not measuring your dick or mine.

And I don't have a complete N64 collection. That was a (very good) joke. The N64 sucks.

The point is that I still have the same copy of Sirens of Titan that I've had for 20 years and I've read it twice. It cost $1. Many of my PC Engine games cost $1 too but that's a thing of the past now. Everyone wants to be the star of Storage Wars and talk about flipping shit and completing shit and making fake cardboard shit. It's a shitstorm, basically and the entire thing is on YouTube. I suggest you emulate or get into something less expensive and less antisocial, like speedboats or pure cocain.

[OC2010]

I'm 43 years old this month. I was raised by a single mother and an abusive step dad. My girlfriend of 16 years dumped me with no explaination. I've been homeless. I've been to jail. I've had to sell stuff before, believe me. You've got nothing on me in these departments and I don't care because it doesn't matter. I'm not measuring your dick or mine.

And I don't have a complete N64 collection. That was a (very good) joke. The N64 sucks.

The point is that I still have the same copy of Sirens of Titan that I've had for 20 years and I've read it twice. It cost $1. Many of my PC Engine games cost $1 too but that's a thing of the past now. Everyone wants to be the star of Storage Wars and talk about flipping shit and completing shit and making fake cardboard shit. It's a shitstorm, basically and the entire thing is on YouTube. I suggest you emulate or get into something less expensive and less antisocial, like speedboats or pure cocain.

Listen... No one is measuring anything here. You are being rude and I told you what I was about after all of your erroneous assumptions. Get off your high horse and take the stick out of that crevice and let me enjoy a little bit of something. I just want to enjoy some PC Engine games again. Quit trolling my post and go get into someone else's business, please.

[esteban]

OC2010: I was being deceitful. Zeta and I might actually be more than 20 years old.

Indeed, we have been soured by what has happened in the last 15-20 years. We have seen the most ridiculous things.

As Zeta already explained, it doesn't matter that you are older/younger than us, because you are just jumping into things (circa 2016) and we are simply explaining : IT'S CRAZY. IT'S STOOPID. A FOOL AND HIS KRUGERRANDS ARE SOON DEPARTED.

[OC2010]

I'm completely cool with that... And I do already understand where you both are coming from. The market is crazy. But, I definitely did not deserve all of that. Be jaded all you want to be. I just want to buy an emulation system like the Retro Freak and a Duo-R. This is not complicated. No one in here deserves to be attacked just because they are "starting" or whatever. Be polite and warn about the state of collecting at this time if you want (such as how you just did). But don't be rude thinking I'm another guy in here for a quick buck. If I was in it for that, I wouldn't be looking to get a Duo-R and an XRGB Mini. There is not much money in that for ME on the back end. I want it for myself because I love the games and always wanted that particular system. No need to get testy about it.

From the moment I began the thread Zeta has been rude. I looked at the rules and never expected all of this because they exist, even though it was mentioned in the thread that some people have forgotten them...

Thank you for being polite.

[OC2010]

My apologies, everyone... I just now realized that I posted this in the wrong section of the forum. When I get back in the market for my Duo-R I will move it to the PCE sales and trade specific area. Initial comments about the Turbo Duo make a whole lot of sense when you get your head out of the sand! Sorry!

[esteban]

My apologies, everyone... I just now realized that I posted this in the wrong section of the forum. When I get back in the market for my Duo-R I will move it to the PCE sales and trade specific area. Initial comments about the Turbo Duo make a whole lot of sense when you get your head out of the sand! Sorry!

It's all good.

[wildfruit]

Is a kindle a book emulator?

[Johnpv]

I just wanted to add that saying a Duo-R is going to cost you $1000 is way off base.  You can find RGB, and Region modded Rs on ebay in the 350 - 400 range.  They come with the RGB cable you need, and to add a framemeister into that cost is a bit disingenuous IMHO.  The FM is going to work with all your gaming consoles and not just the Duo-R.  If you watch sales and time it right, a set up can be had for way less than you're thinking.

[OC2010]

I just wanted to add that saying a Duo-R is going to cost you $1000 is way off base.  You can find RGB, and Region modded Rs on ebay in the 350 - 400 range.  They come with the RGB cable you need, and to add a framemeister into that cost is a bit disingenuous IMHO.  The FM is going to work with all your gaming consoles and not just the Duo-R.  If you watch sales and time it right, a set up can be had for way less than you're thinking.

I hope you are right. But the Duo-Rs that I have seen recently on eBay have not been modded. The costs when I added them up yesterday looked like this:

PCE Duo-R -@ $300
Duo Card - @ $75
Region Switch mod - @ $50
RGB mod - @ $65
XRGB Mini - @ $370 (but you are correct it will help with the other consoles I will get)
SCART and other cables - @ $30
Multi tap - @ $40
Additional 6 button controller(s) if there isn't two (priced Avenue 6) - @ $40 per
Shipping - @ $75 if I have to do all mods after the fact and purchase from Japan

Total: @ $1045

This is how I got my number... Take away some of the shipping and add the mods in at $350 to $400 for the system and I'm still at @ $950- $1000. So, the system itself and the XRGB Mini for $1000? That's not what I meant and I'm sorry for the confusion. It's all the other stuff that make it function the way I want it to that add to the cost. I will be very grateful if I can get what I am looking for at better prices. I hope you are right!

[esteban]

I just wanted to add that saying a Duo-R is going to cost you $1000 is way off base.  You can find RGB, and Region modded Rs on ebay in the 350 - 400 range.  They come with the RGB cable you need, and to add a framemeister into that cost is a bit disingenuous IMHO.  The FM is going to work with all your gaming consoles and not just the Duo-R.  If you watch sales and time it right, a set up can be had for way less than you're thinking.

I hope you are right. But the Duo-Rs that I have seen recently on eBay have not been modded. The costs when I added them up yesterday looked like this:

PCE Duo-R -@ $300
Duo Card - @ $75
Region Switch mod - @ $50
RGB mod - @ $65
XRGB Mini - @ $370 (but you are correct it will help with the other consoles I will get)
SCART and other cables - @ $30
Multi tap - @ $40
Additional 6 button controller(s) if there isn't two (priced Avenue 6) - @ $40 per
Shipping - @ $75 if I have to do all mods after the fact and purchase from Japan

Total: @ $1045

This is how I got my number... Take away some of the shipping and add the mods in at $350 to $400 for the system and I'm still at @ $950- $1000. So, the system itself and the XRGB Mini for $1000? That's not what I meant and I'm sorry for the confusion. It's all the other stuff that make it function the way I want it to that add to the cost. I will be very grateful if I can get what I am looking for at better prices. I hope you are right!

CRT

SAVE $$$

Happiness

[SavagePencil]

FWIW, I think you're going the right route.  Get the system and play the HuCards and give it some time.  You might find that the upscaler situation has changed in the next few months.  Maybe the OSSC will be the new darling of upscalers.  I was kind of driven crazy by the Framemeister because each and every system required niggling little tweaks or had some minor oddball issue ("oh, it takes a few seconds when a Saturn game changes resolution from 240p to 480i, but on *my* TV it totally drops the connection and requires me to power cycle", etc.).  I went the CRT w/RGB route and that has its own challenges.  I've invested too much time and money into the setup, time that I could have spent playing the fucking games.

[OC2010]

While I understand and appreciate the sentimentality toward CRT, they are becoming more scarce along with the parts that fix them everyday. I also admit that I enjoy the "shiny" HD picture and that with the right equipment they can make the picture quality for these older games look better than ever. I am not a speed runner, and the input lag is extremely minimal with the equipment I am choosing, so that is not a problem. We could argue for weeks about whether my statement about picture quality is true or not, because "better" is my opinion, but I am choosing to move with the times... Whether that is "forward" or not is also subject to our opinions. But I want everything on one TV, and I have moved to HD, and soon to UHD.

[Gypsy]

I guess it depends on where you live but I have multiple good trinitron tvs, all acquired for free. I could get many more via CL if I felt like it too. That said, I also have a DVDO iScan VP30 with the ABT 102 card installed. Mainly so I could have a central set-up where I have newer consoles and stuff like my Saturn and Genny hooked up. I think both are fine options, it's just preference.

Edit: I will add that I would like to get a decent quality older monitor, but both times I've tried recently the other person flaked out.

[Johnpv]

I just wanted to add that saying a Duo-R is going to cost you $1000 is way off base.  You can find RGB, and Region modded Rs on ebay in the 350 - 400 range.  They come with the RGB cable you need, and to add a framemeister into that cost is a bit disingenuous IMHO.  The FM is going to work with all your gaming consoles and not just the Duo-R.  If you watch sales and time it right, a set up can be had for way less than you're thinking.

I hope you are right. But the Duo-Rs that I have seen recently on eBay have not been modded. The costs when I added them up yesterday looked like this:

PCE Duo-R -@ $300
Duo Card - @ $75
Region Switch mod - @ $50
RGB mod - @ $65
XRGB Mini - @ $370 (but you are correct it will help with the other consoles I will get)
SCART and other cables - @ $30
Multi tap - @ $40
Additional 6 button controller(s) if there isn't two (priced Avenue 6) - @ $40 per
Shipping - @ $75 if I have to do all mods after the fact and purchase from Japan

Total: @ $1045

This is how I got my number... Take away some of the shipping and add the mods in at $350 to $400 for the system and I'm still at @ $950- $1000. So, the system itself and the XRGB Mini for $1000? That's not what I meant and I'm sorry for the confusion. It's all the other stuff that make it function the way I want it to that add to the cost. I will be very grateful if I can get what I am looking for at better prices. I hope you are right!

Why are you including prices for things already done.  Plus why are you including the Arcade card price, there's only a small handful of games that use it.  Plus every pre-modded system I've seen sold include an RGB cable so again, inflated pricing.  You're just inflating things with multitaps and more controllers.  Should you add magical chase to that and say a Duo-R costs 5 grand?

It just comes off to me like you're making up excuses to justify your purchase of a retro freak.  No need to spread miss information though. 

Hell man there's 8 nice condition Duo R's on ebay right now with buy it nows for under 300 bucks, and I see pre-modded ones all the time for the 400 range.  There's a bunch of nice Duo-Rs with at least 4 games in the 250 - 300 buy it now range.

I'm not trying to be a dick or anything, if you want to go retro freak instead go for it.  I'm just saying don't claim the reasoning for it is because a Duo-R costs 1000 dollars.  It's like saying ohh I don't want to get a PS4 because its 300,000 dollars.  Ohh well I'll need to buy a TV with it, and then I'm going to need a house to put that in, and pay for electricity!

[Nazi NecroPhile]

That's what I was thinking, Johnpv.  That and for a guy that's broke and just looking to enjoy some games, he's going about  it in one of the most expensive ways possible.

[OC2010]

I just wanted to add that saying a Duo-R is going to cost you $1000 is way off base.  You can find RGB, and Region modded Rs on ebay in the 350 - 400 range.  They come with the RGB cable you need, and to add a framemeister into that cost is a bit disingenuous IMHO.  The FM is going to work with all your gaming consoles and not just the Duo-R.  If you watch sales and time it right, a set up can be had for way less than you're thinking.

I hope you are right. But the Duo-Rs that I have seen recently on eBay have not been modded. The costs when I added them up yesterday looked like this:

PCE Duo-R -@ $300
Duo Card - @ $75
Region Switch mod - @ $50
RGB mod - @ $65
XRGB Mini - @ $370 (but you are correct it will help with the other consoles I will get)
SCART and other cables - @ $30
Multi tap - @ $40
Additional 6 button controller(s) if there isn't two (priced Avenue 6) - @ $40 per
Shipping - @ $75 if I have to do all mods after the fact and purchase from Japan

Total: @ $1045

This is how I got my number... Take away some of the shipping and add the mods in at $350 to $400 for the system and I'm still at @ $950- $1000. So, the system itself and the XRGB Mini for $1000? That's not what I meant and I'm sorry for the confusion. It's all the other stuff that make it function the way I want it to that add to the cost. I will be very grateful if I can get what I am looking for at better prices. I hope you are right!

Why are you including prices for things already done.  Plus why are you including the Arcade card price, there's only a small handful of games that use it.  Plus every pre-modded system I've seen sold include an RGB cable so again, inflated pricing.  You're just inflating things with multitaps and more controllers.  Should you add magical chase to that and say a Duo-R costs 5 grand?

It just comes off to me like you're making up excuses to justify your purchase of a retro freak.  No need to spread miss information though. 

Hell man there's 8 nice condition Duo R's on ebay right now with buy it nows for under 300 bucks, and I see pre-modded ones all the time for the 400 range.  There's a bunch of nice Duo-Rs with at least 4 games in the 250 - 300 buy it now range.

I'm not trying to be a dick or anything, if you want to go retro freak instead go for it.  I'm just saying don't claim the reasoning for it is because a Duo-R costs 1000 dollars.  It's like saying ohh I don't want to get a PS4 because its 300,000 dollars.  Ohh well I'll need to buy a TV with it, and then I'm going to need a house to put that in, and pay for electricity!

That takes the cake as the most absurd statement I have been confronted with in here. Am I not allowed to get the Duo-R for the main purposes I want it for? I never once said that the Duo-R would cost $1000 for the console, at the top of page 2 of this thread I provide my first explanation without pricing it all out. Should I just buy it and not have the means to play it the way I want? My gosh... I don't understand at all why a few people in here are so up in arms about this? I was completely up front about how and why I wanted it on page 1 of this thread. I also explained why I wanted the Arcade Duo Card - I like the Neo Geo fighters that are playable with it: Fatal Fury 1 and 2, and Art of Fighting. I just priced it out for you because this is what is need to play it how I want. If I don't get all the things I want, it's like buying a toy that requires batteries to use the functions I want, but not buying batteries. Essentially, the toy is not the toy I want it to be. None of these prices are inflated, and I even gave you the fully modded price at the end. I didn't include games, I just chose to not go into this with blinders on. I asked myself: "What am I really getting into if I am going to do this the right way for what I want from the system?" I really don't understand what the problem is.

I am not choosing to NOT get a Duo-R, just to wait on it. The Retro Freak gives me a lot of bang for the buck and helps with other systems I want access to their game libraries. The fact that it plays TG16, PCE and SGFX is great icing and allows me time, while still scratching the itch, to get the funds together how I want for the Duo-R. This is the most absurd argument... that it is even happening and that you guys are arguing semantics so much. Maybe this is what Zeta was talking about with people being antisocial? Do you guys have nothing better to do than pick apart what I never tried to hide? Give me a break.

I'm going to give these forums some time. But why in the world would anyone want to stick around in here with people that treat you like this? I feel like I'm trying to become a member of a club, but since I haven't been here as long as you and your friends, and since you don't know me, some of you want me to go away and are treating me like trash just to make me leave. I hope that is not the case... But it is how you have made it seem.